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Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Over the past year, I've felt like I've made huge gains in the world of adulthood. Today was another step in that direction. During the past year or so, since this presidential race has taken on a life of its own, I've really sought to find what I believe. In previous elections, truth be told, I took for granted my right as an American to exercise my opinion by voting. I voted, but I didn't feel like my vote mattered in the grand scheme of things. However, this election was vastly different for me. I've listened to more talk radio, news shows, read political blogs, etc. all to gain insight on which candidate would be the best choice as the leader of the free world. As a voter, I felt like it was my responsibility to choose wisely by educating myself. One of the pet peeves that has developed since I've begun my quest is the voter that simply casts the vote based on how nice the candidate seems, how different, and unfortunately, how good looking. Yes, I've heard the last excuse spoken aloud. To be honest, I don't have any tolerance for the uneducated voter. I feel like you have to count the cost in this situation. In which case would it cost us more than what we've already paid in government inefficiencies, loss of personal freedoms, and a host of other issues.

I've come to terms with the fact that there will never be a candidate that holds 100% of my opinions and beliefs, but there are some fundamental issues that I will not budge on. The first being pro-life. I've always been a strong supporter of the pro-life vote, but two years ago my belief was cemented. Not because of anything that I had read or seen, and although I know the Bible speaks of life in the womb, that wasn't the cement in my belief. Rather, it was because of what I experienced - a lost pregnancy that was so wanted. It still floors me to hear someone argue that a woman should have the right to choose what should happen with an unborn child because it should be the woman's choice when I sit here, not being able to have a child of my own. What amazes me is that people that I know, that claim to be Christians, believe in the right to choose. Those across the aisle from me are more apt to protect an endangered animal before they protect the unborn child. Appaling!!

I strongly believe that our founding fathers created a government that allowed citizens of the United States to act freely, without an overwhelming amount of government control. I completely agree with a smaller federal government. The thought of the government controlling financial institutions, schools, the distribution of my money to those that don't even work, and healthcare, frankly scares me to death.

I sit here watching the very biased media give the election to someone that I didn't chose and my heart grows heavy. In a time where Supreme Court justices are considering retirement, I get chills thinking about a liberal president choosing life-long justices to sit on the bench. I wonder what has happened to our country - forsaking the very beliefs that we were founded on - and where we will be tomorrow when this is all over.

I'm living in a house that was purchased in 1960 and had one owner. When we moved in, it was full of a life that was lived.

Since we've moved into it, we have spent hours sorting through vacation souvenirs, family photos, handmade clothes, kitchen supplies, closets full of linens and the likes.

Through this "cleaning" we have noticed how the person who lived here tried her best to keep her home in the best shape possible, even when she wasn't able. Tonight as we cleaned the master bedroom in preparation to rip the carpet up and paint the walls, we discovered mini-blinds that were taped together with kleenex to block the light out and chipped paint held in place from the places it was falling by scotch tape. While it is a nuisance to remove from the walls, the scotch tape struck a chord with me and immediately saddened me upon its sight.

Here was a precious woman holding together something she found precious with scotch tape. It immediately led me to think …

The paintings of Monet have always inspired me - the strokes that appear random upon close inspection of a canvas takes on a different appearance the further away you position yourself from the piece. Slowly images begin to appear and make sense to the observer. The strokes that appeared sloppily orchestrated up close or even appeared as possible mistakes, now create the delicate petals of water lilies on the surface of a pond. Instead of images becoming clearer the closer you step, focus appears as you take in the entire masterpiece.

I've been contemplating the large masterpiece of my life recently. For so long I've been focused on the individual brushstrokes that don't make sense. I can't piece them together. The blues, pinks, and purples that are smeared across the canvas - the heartache, the challenges, the questions, the difficulties - I can't see the entire canvas, yet. But, I know who does. The one who knows the very number of the hairs on my head.